By BlacksoilTV Entertainment Desk
August 21, 2026
Nigerian music continues to fly the flag on the global stage as Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy and Tems have secured nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
Burna Boy received two nominations, while Tems earned one nomination, further highlighting the international reach of Nigerian music and the growing influence of African artists in global entertainment.
Burna Boy Gets Two Nods
Burna Boy, one of Nigeria’s biggest global music exports, is nominated in Best Collaboration for his song “Dai Dai” with Colombian superstar Shakira.
The Grammy-winning Nigerian also features among the nominees in another category, giving him two opportunities to take home a prestigious Moon Person trophy.
Tems Representing Nigeria in R&B
Tems also earned recognition for her collaboration with British rapper Dave on “Raindance.”
The song has been nominated in the Best R&B category, putting the Nigerian singer-songwriter in competition with some of the biggest names in contemporary R&B.
Best Afrobeats Category Scrapped
However, this year’s nominations came with a surprise for Afrobeats fans.
The Best Afrobeats category has been removed from the 2026 VMAs lineup, despite being introduced just three years ago to recognise the growing global influence of African music. MTV has not publicly given a reason for dropping the category.
The category was introduced in 2023, with Rema and Selena Gomez becoming its inaugural winners for “Calm Down.” South African star Tyla subsequently won the award in 2024 and 2025.
The 2026 VMAs
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are scheduled to take place on September 27 in Los Angeles.
For Nigerian music fans, all eyes will be on Burna Boy and Tems as they represent Nigeria at one of the world’s biggest music award ceremonies.
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